US military says 15 ISIS militants killed in joint operation with Iraq.

The United States military said on Friday (local time) that 15 ISIS militants were killed in a joint operation by US and Iraqi forces in western Iraq.

The US Central Command said in a statement that the 15 ISIS militants killed were “armed with a variety of weapons, grenades, and explosive ‘suicide’ belts.”

Centcom said there were no indications of any civilian casualties.

“The goal of this operation was to disrupt ISIS leaders and degrade ISIS’ ability to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against Iraqi civilians, as well as US citizens, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond,” it said.

The US military said Iraqi security forces were working “to further exploit the raided locations” as ISIS “continues to pose a threat to the region, our allies, as well as our homeland.”

US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces and Iraqi security forces conducted a joint raid in western Iraq on the morning of August 29, resulting in the deaths of 15 ISIS operatives. The ISIS elements were equipped with a number of weapons, grenades, and explosive “suicide” belts. There… pic.twitter.com/fCOFyxtke1

— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 31, 2024

Centcom said the United States will continue to aggressively pursue ISIS terrorists in collaboration with coalition and Iraqi partners.

Earlier, according to a CNN report, Iraq postponed announcing the end date of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US military operation fighting ISIS, due to “recent developments”, raising questions about the future of the US military presence in the Gulf state amid rising tensions in the region.

The US currently has about 2,500 troops in Iraq, who have been serving there in an “advise and assist” capacity since December 2021, when the US military announced the end of its combat role in the country.

It is noteworthy that tensions have increased in the Middle East in recent months as the Israel-Hamas war continues and the US prepares for a possible Iranian attack on Israel after the assassination of a Hamas political leader in Tehran in late July.

Iran claims the killing was carried out by Israel, although Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

The US Defense Department announced earlier this month that it would send a carrier strike group, a fighter squadron and additional warships to the Middle East to prepare for a possible retaliatory strike. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided-missile submarine and expedited the arrival of a carrier strike group to the region, CNN reports.